Row at plans to stop locals ‘walking into’ recycling facilities

A move to stop people from walking into Fife’s household waste recycling centres has prompted a call for a more “measured” approach.

Access changes, which were principally designed to curb misuse of the centres by businesses trying to avoid commercial waste charges, will come into effect on January 1.

However, plans to prohibit access to civic amenity sites by pedestrians have provoked controversy, particularly in areas such as Cupar.

Liberal Democrat councillor Margaret Kennedy believes the move to prevent “walk-ons” has now started to have an impact on the community.

“I felt strongly that pedestrian access should be managed not prohibited,” she said. “To use it as a method of managing out inappropriate commercial waste disposal is disproportionate in my view.

“Council policies are very much focused on optimising access, for the public, to recycling facilities, balancing with our wider environmental credentials.”

Ross Vettraino, convener of Fife Council’s environment, protective services and community safety committee, said: “In addition to creating a safer environment, banning pedestrian access to civic amenity sites is an important element of the council’s attempts to prevent the illegal use of the sites for the disposal of commercial waste and, in that regard, it is important to note that the council has a legal duty to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that its facilities are not used illegally.”